A Royal Obligation
Chapter 239: You’ve done enough

Chapter 239: You’ve done enough

The soft glow of the setting sun poured into King Thaddeus’s study, casting long shadows across the room. The air was thick with tension as he sat in his high-backed chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest. A knock at the door broke the heavy silence.

"Enter," he barked, his voice sharp and commanding.

The door creaked open, revealing Caledon, the ever-loyal advisor. He stepped inside, bowing low in respect. "Your Majesty," he greeted carefully, his tone measured.

Thaddeus barely spared him a glance, his piercing gaze fixed on the papers sprawled across his desk. "Well? Is there a reply from Valeidio or Zephyros?"

Caledon hesitated, his lips parting as if to soften the blow. "No, Your Majesty," he said finally, his reluctance evident.

The king’s jaw tightened, and his hand slammed down on the armrest of his chair. The resounding crack echoed through the room. "Fools," he muttered under his breath, the word dripping with venom. His irritation boiled just beneath the surface, barely contained.

Thaddeus rose from his chair, his movements sharp and deliberate. Pacing to the window, he stared out at the kingdom beyond, his kingdom.

The sight of it, its sprawling fields and distant mountains, did little to soothe him. "If this kingdom were stronger," he growled, "if it could stand against those arrogant wolves in Valeidio and Zephyros, I wouldn’t have to waste my time pandering to them."

His frustration mounted as he thought of the precarious situation his realm faced. Valeidio and Zephyros were formidable enough on their own, but the threat of Neomenia joining forces with them was an unbearable weight on his shoulders. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He had to stop them. Somehow.

"Damn Carl," he spat, his voice thick with disdain. "If only that insolent boy had delivered Eirik to me when I commanded it, none of this would be happening. Valeidio and Zephyros would already be at my feet."

Caledon remained silent, his head bowed as Thaddeus vented his rage. The advisor knew better than to interrupt, especially when the king was in this state. Instead, he waited patiently, his hands clasped in front of him.

Eventually, Thaddeus turned back toward him, his eyes blazing with frustration. Caledon took the opportunity to step forward, producing two letters from the folds of his robe. "Your Majesty," he said cautiously, "while there has been no reply from the other kingdoms, our spies have sent reports from Valeidio and Zephyros."

Thaddeus snatched the letters from Caledon’s hands without a word, tearing open the one from Zephyros first. His eyes scanned the page quickly, his brow furrowing as he read the contents. "The queen has returned?" he muttered to himself before tossing the letter aside carelessly. It fluttered to the floor, forgotten. "Useless drivel," he sneered. "Must they report every trivial event?"

Caledon shifted uncomfortably, but he kept his thoughts to himself. The spies had been ordered to report everything, no matter how insignificant it seemed. Still, he wisely chose not to remind the king of that fact.

Thaddeus turned his attention to the second letter, his expression darkening as he read. This one was from the spy in Valeidio, and it was far from trivial. His eyes moved quickly over the words, each sentence adding to the weight on his shoulders.

Eirik had returned to Valeidio with Prince Kaelix, but he was gravely unwell. Worse still, the report confirmed that Eirik had lost his child following the attack by the men of Mbuzuoria. Thaddeus felt his temper flare again as he thought of the men he had sent to track down Carl and capture Eirik. Their failure had not only ruined his plans but had also deepened the divide between the kingdoms.

The letter continued, describing how Valeidio was already planning retaliation against Mbuzuoria. Thaddeus clenched the letter in his fist, crumpling it as the implications of the news sank in. If Valeidio struck back, Zephyros would likely stand with them. And once united, it was only a matter of time before they turned their combined strength against his kingdom.

He paced the room, his mind racing. This wasn’t just about Carl anymore, this was about survival. The miscarriage would only fuel Valeidio’s fury, and Zephyros would be more than happy to take advantage of the situation. If war came, his kingdom wouldn’t stand a chance. He needed time, time to fortify his defenses, time to devise a plan that could protect his realm.

"Your Majesty," Caledon ventured cautiously, his voice cutting through the heavy silence. "May I suggest something?"

Thaddeus stopped pacing, his eyes narrowing as he turned to face his advisor. "Speak," he said coldly, though the glint in his eyes warned Caledon to tread carefully.

Caledon took a steadying breath before continuing. "Since Prince Carl is already shouldering the blame for recent events, perhaps we could... hand him over to Valeidio and Zephyros. It might appease them, at least temporarily, and buy us the time we need to strengthen our position."

For a moment, silence stretched in the study. Thaddeus clenched his hands tightly and took a deep breath.

"Caledon," he began, his voice a low rumble that betrayed his fury. "Do you think handing over my son to those vultures will be enough to save this kingdom?"

Caledon’s throat tightened, but he held his ground, his tone measured and cautious.

"Your Majesty, the letter you sent to Valeidio and Zephyros already blames Prince Carl. This narrative aligns with that. It’s a distasteful choice, but the alternative, war with two powerful kingdoms would devastate us.

Offering Prince Carl as a gesture of appeasement could buy us the time we need to fortify our position."

Thaddeus’s jaw clenched. The thought of sacrificing his own son was repugnant, even if that son had brought nothing but trouble. Yet he couldn’t ignore the logic in Caledon’s words. The kingdom was vulnerable. If Valeidio and Zephyros united against them, the outcome would be catastrophic.

"Very well," the king finally said, his voice cold and resolute. "Prepare him for the journey. He leaves for Valeidio tonight. But mark this, Caledon, if this plan backfires, you’ll be held accountable."

Caledon bowed deeply, masking the relief that washed over him. "As you command, Your Majesty."

The king pace back toward the window. His gaze swept across the castle grounds, the weight of his decision pressing heavily on his shoulders.

"Inform the guards," Thaddeus added, his tone biting. "Prince Carl is to be escorted under the cover of night. I want no leaks, no complications."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Caledon hesitated for a moment, then left the study, his footsteps echoing through the quiet corridor.

---

Locked in his chambers, Carl paced like a caged animal. The air was heavy with tension, and his sharp gaze flickered to Amelia, sat by the edge of the bed, weak and bruised.

"Do you want your freedom?" Carl’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and calculating.

Amelia looked up at him, her eyes hollow with exhaustion. "Of course, Your Highness."

Carl’s lips twisted into a smirk. "Then you’ll do exactly as I say."

Amelia swallowed hard, knowing she had no choice. "What do you need me to do?"

Carl stepped closer, his imposing presence making her instinctively shrink back. He pressed a small vial into her hand, the glass cool against her trembling fingers.

"This," he said, his voice low and menacing, "is your key to freedom. Take it to the kitchen and slip it into the guards’ food. They’ll fall unconscious. Once the door is unguarded, I’ll handle the rest."

Amelia’s breath hitched. "And if I fail?"

Carl’s eyes darkened, and he grabbed her wrist, his grip painfully tight. "If you fail me, I’ll make sure you and your pathetic family suffer more than you can imagine."

Her stomach churned, but she nodded shakily. "I won’t fail."

"Good," Carl sneered, releasing her. "Now go."

Amelia tucked the vial into her clothing, her hands trembling as she stood up from the bed and limped towards the door. She knocked softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "The prince commands that I leave his chambers."

When the guards didn’t respond immediately, Carl bellowed from behind her, his voice full of scorn. "Get her out of my sight! She’s useless to me now!"

The guards exchanged uncertain glances but opened the door just enough to let Amelia through, their weapons at the ready in case Carl tried anything.

Amelia paused for a moment, casting a hesitant glance back at Carl. His piercing gaze was fixed on her, a silent warning in his eyes. She turned and stepped through the door.

The heavy door of Prince Carl’s chambers slammed shut behind Amelia, leaving her alone in the dimly lit hallway. She took a shaky breath, clutching the vial of poison hidden in her clothing. The weight of Carl’s threat echoed in her mind, making her hands tremble. She had no choice, Carl’s cruelty over the past days had broken her spirit, and her only hope of survival was to see this plan through.

The two guards stationed outside Carl’s chambers gave her a cursory glance, their expressions a mix of pity and indifference. One of them gestured for her to move along.

"Get out of here," he muttered. "You’ve done enough to appease that madman."

Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m